New York City health officials are pushing back against a report showing a new coronavirus variant is rapidly spreading there.
The New York Times cited research suggesting this new variant is quickly spreading and vaccines may be less effective against it. But New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said he disagreed because, he said, not enough is known about what he called the New York variant.
"We don’t have any evidence at this point that this New York variant, the B.1.526 is what is contributing to the trajectory of cases," he said. Chokshi went on to say that there are no indications so far that this strain spreads more easily, causes more severe illness or reduces vaccine effectiveness.
Dr. Jay Varma, the mayor’s top advisor for public health, called this a variant of interest that the city is tracking, saying more data and studies are needed. He said it doesn’t change anything about the city’s public health concern.
The variant shares a mutation with the South Africa and Brazil variants, but experts say it is unique and must be studied further.